Meaningless to Have Syariah Laws without Maqasid Syariah

In the quest for political gain, the higher purpose of Islam – which is the achieving of justice, compassion, wisdom and righteousness – is easily forfeited.

It is an unfortunate fact of Malaysian politics that discourse revolving around complex political issues is often reduced to banal statements that are more emotional than rational. In most cases, they take the form of a simplistic dichotomy along the lines of identity, be it between Malays and non- Malays or Muslims and non-Muslims, and in most instances, both.

Take the case of the controversial private member’s bill tabled by PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, which seeks to amend the Syariah Court (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 to remove existing limitations on punishments imposable by the syariah courts.

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